H2 value chain

H2 value chain

Within the H2 industry, hydrogen is called „green“ if it is produced from renewable sources and is therefore CO2-neutral. A common way of producing hydrogen is the electrochemical process of electrolysis. Water is split into its elements hydrogen and oxygen by an electric current. In order to meet the requirements of “green hydrogen”, the electric energy must be provided as green electricity, CO2-neutrally respectively.

The H2 value chain consists of green electricity production, H2 production, H2 distribution and storage as well as the various hydrogen applications in mobility, industry, heat supply or base chemistry. According to the terminology of a value chain, the individual steps of value creation are mutually dependent. The desired value can only be added if all elements exist in the first place and subsequently if they are connected to one another effectively.

H2Perform GmbH pursues the goal of offering suitable solutions for individual steps in the H2 value chain. Existing elements are to be combined in a holistic approach and gaps within hydrogen projects are to be closed.

Green Electricity

The value chain of green hydrogen starts with the production of renewable electricity. Green electricity is already being produced in large quantities around the world. The technologies required to generate energy from wind power, solar radiation and hydropower are well established and have experienced major cost reductions. A massive expansion of hydropower is limited by geographic conditions, but regarding wind turbines and photovoltaic systems, unused potential can be realized on a gigantic scale. The speed of the further expansion of renewable energies is strongly influenced by the regulatory framework. For example, in order to cover the entire energy demand in Germany with renewable energies, the installed generation capacity has to grow by a factor of 3 to 5.

H2Perform GmbH pursues the goal of offering suitable solutions for individual steps in the H2 value chain. Existing elements are to be combined in a holistic approach and gaps within hydrogen projects are to be closed.

If you own a property that is suitable for renewable energy production, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are always interested in the implementation of projects in the field of wind power, photovoltaics and hydropower. Let’s discuss the options of laying the foundations for a sustainable hydrogen economy.

H2-Production

Electrolysis will establish itself as a common process for the production of green hydrogen. As an electrochemical energy converter, water is split into its components of hydrogen and oxygen by means of an electric current. PEM electrolysis is particularly promising in connection with fluctuating, renewable energies, as it is suitable for dynamic operation. Numerous political hydrogen strategies are defining a central role for electrolysis and define clear expansion pathways regarding its installed production capacities. An important step in industrialization is imminent and corresponding cost reductions are being expected.

In order to enable self-sustaining business models in the operation of electrolysers, a suitable regulatory framework must be created. In Germany, for example, there is great potential for H2 production in old renewable energy systems whose funding has expired. Instead of selling electricity at regular prices on the free market, electrolysis offers a great opportunity to upgrade renewable electricity into a secondary energy carrier: hydrogen. This can be realized in a decentralized and regional approach.

H2Perform GmbH pursues the goal of offering suitable solutions for individual steps in the H2 value chain. Existing elements are to be combined in a holistic approach and gaps within hydrogen projects are to be closed.

If you are interested in upgrading green electricity, e.g. from previously subsidized renewable power plants, please contact us. Even if you are active in downstream areas of the hydrogen value chain and you are still lacking a coherent concept for H2 production, let‘s talk about your project.

H2-Distribution and H2-Storage

The use of hydrogen in an energy system allows the local and temporal decoupling of energy generation and energy consumption. In the hydrogen economy, a way distributing hydrogen must therefore be found in order to be able to realize H2 production and H2 consumption at different locations. Due to the high investment costs for a pipeline, such way of transport is only suitable if the H2 amount and the transport distance are in a sufficiently large relationship to one another. Hydrogen distribution by truck, on the other hand, is much more flexible and can be implemented either in liquid form or in gaseous form at different pressure levels. Conditioning of the hydrogen for the respective type of transport (cryogenic liquefaction or gaseous compression) should be tailored to the subsequent use of the hydrogen in order to achieve maximum efficiency along the entire value chain.

The H2 distribution already includes an element of storage, for instance through the use of truck trailers. The point in time of H2 production and H2 usage is therefore already decoupled. Nevertheless, the integration of additional or larger H2 storage facilities can be useful in order to achieve greater flexibility and to be able to store larger amounts of hydrogen over a longer period of time.

H2Perform GmbH pursues the goal of offering suitable solutions for individual steps in the H2 value chain. Existing elements are to be combined in a holistic approach and gaps within hydrogen projects are to be closed.

If you are in need for a suitable concept for H2 distribution and / or H2 storage within your project, please do not hesitate to contact us.

H2-Applications

The various usage of hydrogen can be divided into the four areas of mobility, industry, heat generation and base chemistry. The diversity of hydrogen applications represents a great opportunity regarding climate protection and economic benefits. The first elements of the hydrogen value chain can already be scaled up and industrialized, even if there is no certainty at that time where the hydrogen will finally be used. In principle, the widespread use of hydrogen is initially to be expected in those areas which are inidicating a willingness to pay the best price for green hydrogen. These applications are usually need to compensate the lowest additional costs compared to conventional technologies. Due to the high energy prices in the fuel sector, there are promising prospects for H2 mobility. The first fuel cell vehicles (FCEV) are available on the market as buses for public transport, garbage trucks, passenger trains and mass-produced passenger cars.

H2Perform GmbH pursues the goal of offering suitable solutions for individual steps in the H2 value chain. Existing elements are to be combined in a holistic approach and gaps within hydrogen projects are to be closed.

If you are looking for suitable applications for your green hydrogen, please do not hesitate to contact us. Even if you would like to become an H2 user yourself, but are confronted with deterrent hurdles, let’s talk about your project as well.